News & Features

The NCAA recently passed bylaws that are relevant to college-bound junior tennis players. These bylaws specify new rules: how long a high school graduate can wait before enrolling in college - and the kinds of competition in which the student-athlete can engage. Dede Allen discusses these new bylaws.

Question: I heard that the NCAA is making a major change to the eligibility rules for tennis. Can you tell me what it is and when it will take effect?

Answer:

It used to be that Division I recruits were allowed to take a year off without penalty before enrolling as a freshman. However, that will change for players starting this year - for the Class of 2010.

New NCAA bylaw 14.2.3.2.2 takes effect on August 1, 2010. Simply put, it states that players may only take 6 months off after high school graduation (as determined by the first year of high school enrollment) or the first opportunity to enroll after six months have elapsed.

Players who choose to go this route and do NOT enroll during the 6 month time frame will be charged with a season of intercollegiate eligibility for each calendar year after the 6 months (or next opportunity to enroll) per bylaw 14.02.9

After the 6 month period, if the student-athlete has engaged in "organized competition" the student-athlete must fulfill an academic year in residence for each calendar year after the 6-month period has elapsed. These years must be fulfilled before the student-athlete will be allowed to represent the school in competition.

What is considered "organized competition"?

If any one of the following circumstances exist, it will be considered organized competition.

Competition is scheduled and publicized in advance

Official score is kept

Individual or team standings are maintained

Official timer or game officials are used

Admission is charged

Teams are regularly formed or team rosters are predetermined

Team uniforms are used

A team in privately or commercially sponsored OR

The competition is either directly or indirectly sponsored, promoted or administered by an individual, an organization or any other agency.

Other tennis concerns - effective August 1, 2010

A prospective tennis student-athlete may compete on a professional team prior to enrolling in a Division I school provided that he or she does not receive more than actual and necessary expenses to participate on the team.

A prospective tennis student-athlete may enter into an agreement to compete on a professional team prior to enrolling in a Division I school provided that the agreement does not guarantee or promise payment (at any time) in excess or actual and necessary expenses.

30-Jun-2015Recruiting Terms and Calendar for 2015-16
July marks the beginning of another recruiting year. Recruiting
expert Dede Allen is back to review important dates on the calendar
for all ages - and she also has a primer on basic recruiting terms.

23-Jun-2015Unofficial Visits - More Important Than You Think
Some high school students take eight, ten, a dozen unofficial visits
as part of their recruiting process. Some people might think
that's a lot of unofficial visits, but it's really not.
Since there is no limit on unofficial visits, why not take full
advantage of your options?

14-Apr-2015Spring Signing Week '15: Recruiting Strategy and Tips for Unsigned Seniors
Signing Week is underway, and it is an exciting time for players and
their families who are making college commitments. But what happens
when you don't have a college secured? There is no reason to panic. The
signing period that starts this week runs through August, and hundreds
more players will commit during this time. You just need to know how to
best proceed...

Dede Allen is a world-renowned college recruiting expert who is intimately
familiar with both college and junior tennis. Allen was head coach of the
Wake Forest University women's tennis team for seven years, and she was
named ACC Coach of the Year in 1987. Since her college coaching days, Allen
served the USTA for over 14 years as Administrator for USA Tennis Junior
Competition and liaison to the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. Allen is the author
of three books on recruiting, including the USTA Guide for Prospective
College Athletes, the recently-revised
Collegiate Guide for High School Tennis Players,
and
the Collegiate Guide for High School Athletes. Today, Allen presents
seminars throughout the country to prospective college tennis players.

Allen writes a periodic column at TennisRecruiting.net where she provides
advice and answers your questions. You can
submit a question to Dede for her
to answer directly - or in a future column.